Bareksa.com – The results of a survey conducted by BKPM on 100 investment projects indicates that there are nine projects that could potentially increase exports by US$800 million and reduce imports by US$810 million, said BKPM Head Franky Sibarani during a special interview in Jakarta recently.

The survey results are important as increased investments in export-oriented industries that can substitute imports will be able to enhance Indonesia’s trade balance performance. Currently one factor causing the trade balance deficit is increased imports of raw materials and capital goods. Therefore if Indonesia can develop more domestic industries the dependency on such imports will decrease.

Not less important is the fact that the nine projects are also projected to employ between 10,000 and 40,000 people. "This figure only applies to the nine projects, so how huge will the figure be when the 100 projects are fully implemented?" said Franky. Watch an excerpt of the interview in the following video. (AD | np)